Lorelei Frances Radtke, age 86, passed away peacefully Saturday, March 31, 2018, at Stone Lodge Memory Care in Shepherd with her family nearby.
Lorelei was born on October 17, 1931 in Detroit to Marie Margaret Connolly and Francis Edward Martin. On July 5, 1952 she married Charles Harold Radtke and raised 3 children. In 1965, they followed their dream and moved to a stone house on 80 acres in Gaylord. Lorelei referred to her home as a piece of heaven in God’s country.
As a teenager, Lorelei loved to roller skate and learned how to dance on skates. She served as a Girl Scout Leader and took a group of girls out west in the early ‘70s. She loved Mackinac Island and always tried to take her grandchildren on trips to the Island each year. She was an accomplished seamstress and loved to make clothing for family and friends. Lorelei worked as an accountant for Chrysler in the 1950s and then for State of Michigan in accounting after moving to Gaylord. Lorelei was active with the Northland Sportsman’s Club and was a past Sportswoman of the Year. She also volunteered at the NRA annual meetings for many years, which gave her a chance to travel all over the country. Lorelei was involved with the church, both at St. Mary’s in Gaylord and her adopted parish, St. Vincent dePaul in Shepherd, where she has lived the last 15 months.
She is survived by her children, Scott (Iola) Radtke of Shepherd, Donna Cross of Lewiston, Kern (Robin) Radtke of Elk Grove, CA; grandchildren Joseph (Jennifer), Justin (Abby), Sarah (Eric) Ostahowski, Stephanie (Ryan) Quinn, Jason (Lacey Pederson) Sajdak, Joshua (Gloria), Jovannah (Katelyn), and Jacobey; great-grandchildren Jacob, Miles, Charles, Kaylee, Edward, Lorelei, Violet, Gabe, Victoria, Elizabeth, Ezekial, Kameron ,Keegen, Korben, Livia, Aurora, Jordan, and Riley; Siblings, William Martin, Marie (Thomas) Wittbrodt; as well as her close friend James Yeoman.
She was preceded in death by her husband of fifty years, Charles Harold, parents Francis Martin and Marie Young, and her brother Thomas Martin (at age five).
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Mary Cathedral in Gaylord on Thursday, April 5, 2018 at 11:00am.
Visitation will be held at Nelson Funeral Home on Tuesday, April 3, from 5:00 to 8:00pm, and on Wednesday, April 4, from 2:00 to 8:00pm.
There will also be a visitation at St. Mary Cathedral on Thursday, April 5, from 10:00am until the time of service.
St. Mary Altar Rosary Society will offer a rosary, at the funeral home, Wednesday evening (April 4th) at 6:00 pm
Donations may be made in Lorelei’s name to Stone Lodge Memory Care courtesy of Nelson Funeral Home and Cremation Service, P.O. Box 1548, Gaylord, Michigan 49734.
20 comments on “Radtke, Lorelei”
Sorry to hear. She was a great lady, she will be missed. I can’t remember every thing she said, but I will always remember how she made you feel.
What a wonderful soul. I will miss the way her smile lit up the room, and her great hugs. Prayers for all of her family.
Donna and family
So sorry to hear you lost your Mom, I know she was so special and you have lots of good memories.
Thanks so much. Memories will carry us through this tough time and later.
So sorry for your loss! Enjoyed talking to Lori a few months ago, about old friends, sewing, . I could “hear” her smile! She is missed, but won’t be forgotten!
So sorry to hear this, what a wonderful lady to be around. Always a smile and a hug for her friends. A great family, she will be dearly missed.
Lorelei you will truely be missed.
I met Lorelei at Northland Sportsman’s Club several years ago. A person with endless kindness.
She and Ray Patterson are probably discussing gun stuff in heaven.
We have loved Granny for over 40 years. She treated us like family even though we were Scott and Iola’s neighbors. We will miss her and her warm smile and kind words.
My deepest sympathy to Lorelei’s family. I’m smiling right now remembering all the fun times we had together, especially bingo. Such a loving, caring, special lady.
Such a sad day to hear of this loss. Growing up as neighbors with Mrs. Radtke we saw her and Mr. Radtke frequently. Mrs Radtke babysat my sister, brother and I often as children. We loved her as family and will remember all the fun times we would visit and they would come over for special occasions as well. Thoughts and prayers are with the family, so sorry for your loss.
Such a lovely lady! A caring person with a beautiful smile. I will miss seeing her.
My thoughts and prayers are with Lorelei’s family. She was a truly special, sweet and witty person.
Goodbye Ma, we’re all going to miss you. My prayers go out to you and your family.
I just knew Lorelei for the past five years from St. Mary Cathedral. She always made a point of sharing her bright spirit with me when our paths crossed. Her positive, happy disposition was such a gift to me. She will be missed and always remembered.
Dear Donna and family, sorry for your loss. I was fortunate to know your mom through Mimi, she was a special lady.
Donna I can’t thank you enough for your phone message. So sad to hear of one of my best friends passing. Your mom was an incredible lady, wow we had lots of years together with tons of great times. I seriously just got a Thinking Of You card to send to her last weekend. When I received her change of address postcard, I felt like something wasn’t right and that her health was failing. We winter in AZ and are still out here or we would be there for her Memorial Service. We would have LOVED to see you, Kern and Scott again. So sorry for your loss…hugs, prayers and LOVE sent to all of you.
So sorry to hear of Lorelei’s passing. She was a beautiful soul. Enjoyed visiting with her at church and reminiscing about the good old days at the bowling alley. R.I.P. old friend.
What a great friend. We will miss her, so many fun times at the Sportman’s Club and all the campouts we went on with she and Charlie. Our sincere sympathy to all her family and Jim her dear friend. She will always be remembered as a special lady.
What a great friend. We will miss her, so many fun times at the Sportman’s Club and all the campouts we went on with she and Charlie. Our sincere sympathy to all her family and Jim her dear friend. She will always be remembered as a special lady.
Donna and family, sorry to hear about your mother, she was a sweet lady.You are in my thoughts and prayers.